PUBLICIST'S SPOTLIGHT - Dee Dee Cocheta
Monday, May 7, 2007
, Posted by DJ Plan.B at 5/07/2007 10:53:00 AM
When and how did you get your start in the entertainment industry/as a publicist?
I really am a Marketing Major and have been doing promotions since high school so that’s when I got my first start doing hair shows and then promoting parties and rap artists. Marketing oversees the aspect of Public Relations so I was very familiar with writing press releases and alerting media of events (I am)working on. Once I graduated from college I was working in radio, a media outlet so I began building contacts with other media outlets, TV, newspapers, magazines and PUBLICISTS. Once I spent two and half years in radio I decided to go FULL STEAM AHEAD and start a Marketing Firm in 1999. It wasn’t until 2001 that I added PR to the services we provided because while consulting and handling promotions for the client, I played the role of a publicist when speaking with radio and magazines. Where I learned how to pitch was already being a Marketing Director in Radio you need to know how to sell your presentations, what will benefit the sponsor, so to flip the script; it was easy to do the same for Magazines and let them know why our client would be beneficial in listing in their magazine or on the TV show. Because I had contacts with media people I asked them when is the best time to pitch them and requesting their editorial calendar and media kits so we can also assist with media buys. Publicists that I made connection with were a plus too knowing we could subcontract to one another and make sure to invite each other’s clients out to events we were working on. It was our client - R&B singer Tony Terry that led me to being a known national publicist in which I was referred to him by a client who was a radio/sports personality who ventured out in doing event.
I really am a Marketing Major and have been doing promotions since high school so that’s when I got my first start doing hair shows and then promoting parties and rap artists. Marketing oversees the aspect of Public Relations so I was very familiar with writing press releases and alerting media of events (I am)working on. Once I graduated from college I was working in radio, a media outlet so I began building contacts with other media outlets, TV, newspapers, magazines and PUBLICISTS. Once I spent two and half years in radio I decided to go FULL STEAM AHEAD and start a Marketing Firm in 1999. It wasn’t until 2001 that I added PR to the services we provided because while consulting and handling promotions for the client, I played the role of a publicist when speaking with radio and magazines. Where I learned how to pitch was already being a Marketing Director in Radio you need to know how to sell your presentations, what will benefit the sponsor, so to flip the script; it was easy to do the same for Magazines and let them know why our client would be beneficial in listing in their magazine or on the TV show. Because I had contacts with media people I asked them when is the best time to pitch them and requesting their editorial calendar and media kits so we can also assist with media buys. Publicists that I made connection with were a plus too knowing we could subcontract to one another and make sure to invite each other’s clients out to events we were working on. It was our client - R&B singer Tony Terry that led me to being a known national publicist in which I was referred to him by a client who was a radio/sports personality who ventured out in doing event.
Like I said it was established in 1999 yet we were also doing Management at the time and it was A.B.C. Marketing & Management. We became A.B.C. Associates Entertainment Firm in 2001 in which I launched PR, Marketing Consulting (we stopped doing promotions) and Event Production.
Current Client List:
Current Client List:
- PRODUCER - ISAAC "IKE DIRTY" HAYES, III - www.myspace.com/isaachayes3
- C.B'z (CASTLE Boyz) - "What They Talkin' 'Bout" - www.myspace.com/thecastleboyz
- LOD DJ's - http://www.lodrecordpool.com/ - The SOUTHEAST largest DJ Record Pool that BREAK RECORDS!
- 14 year old rap sensation - SAS - www.myspace.com/sasfireinthehole or www.sasmusic.net
- 5th Annual SouthEast Urban Music Conference - June 27 -30 - http://www.sumc-lod.com/
- NUT SKYWALKER – HOOD ROCK Creator – www.myspace.com/nutskywalker
- iNDi MAGAZINE - for all genres of music and film - http://www.indimagazine.net/
What inspires you each day to be such a premier publicist?
THE MOST HIGH because this is divine order and the path that was set placed before me. Family and Clients…when I see them smiling at the end of the day I know I have done what I am suppose to do.
What is your motto as a publicist?
I started out with the three R’s – RESPECT, REPRESENTATION & RESULTS – that’s what we give!
What advice would you give to up and coming PR majors or individuals that want to get their foot in the PR game?
What advice would you give to up and coming PR majors or individuals that want to get their foot in the PR game?
Of course we got to be PERSISTENT in anything we do especially publicists but never be OVER AGGRESSIVE! Your character goes a long way in this business and you never want to piss people off. Always value yourself and make time for YOU! This business can also wear you out so make sure you spend time with friends and family, read, do yogo anything to keep you sane. I always strive to put balance in my life by making some “me” time. So to do a Jesse Jackson impression – If you believe, you will achieve!
To become a client, first you must provide us with information on your company. If you are an artists or producer, provide us mp3’s of your music. As a filmmaker provide a trailer of film. In addition, provide us with the goals you are trying to accomplish, markets you are beginning to make impact in and anything else we need to know to better equip us in making a decision in taking you/your company on as a client. Lastly, understand an average amount a month a PR firm charges. We do work within peoples budgets but don’t think we work for free or off a point system.
To become a client, first you must provide us with information on your company. If you are an artists or producer, provide us mp3’s of your music. As a filmmaker provide a trailer of film. In addition, provide us with the goals you are trying to accomplish, markets you are beginning to make impact in and anything else we need to know to better equip us in making a decision in taking you/your company on as a client. Lastly, understand an average amount a month a PR firm charges. We do work within peoples budgets but don’t think we work for free or off a point system.
